AP Psychology
AP Psychology - 12th Grade
At Pine Richland High School I prepared students for post high school life and for the AP test in May in the field of Psychology. Here are some projects and assignments that we have done :) A typical day is hard to come by - everyday is unique in its own way to ensure that all types of learners are reaching their full potential. One day we might have a lecture with built in questions, another day may be a discussion, a poster, a gallery walk, partner work or group work! Here are some examples of student work and agendas for things that we have covered thus far in this class.
AP Psychology - Example Lessons/Activities -12th Grade
Motivation Lesson Information
Learning Goal: Compare and Contrast Theories of Motivated Behavior
Lesson Information: Teacher Led
Maslow Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid (story portion would be completed as HW)
Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic matching cards game
Stanford Marshmallow Experiment
Ways to Differentiate:
Fill in the blank notes instead of Cornell Notes
Additional videos/readings available for students that want more information
Crash course videos available to help students who need review
Absent students "extrinsic and intrinsic" cards on Quizlet to review
In Class Discussion Information
Learning Goal: Compare and Contrast theories of personality
General Discussions: Student Led
There have been a multitude of in class discussions (some informal some formal).
They are student centered and tossing the beach ball for the person speaking kept up engagement as well as focus.
Students would need to usually complete an exit ticket as well on the discussion.
Personality Lesson Information:
Students would randomly be assigned a personality psychologist
Two class periods to research, answer questions + ask questions, third class period group discussion
Group discussion analyzing the causes and types of personality from the approach of their psychologist
Students would pass beach ball to the person speaking
There were multiple in class discussions ranging from this topic to elements of social psychology to an optional in class discussion on mental health.
Ways to Differentiate:
Paper discussion assignment (for social anxiety and for absences)
Scaffold questions to assist students
Give students the discussion ahead of time
Challenge students to complete more than the required boxes on the rubric
Jeopardy & Review Games
Learning Goal: Apply knowledge and skills learned to prepare for the AP assessment/quizzes/tests
Lesson Information: Technology Based
This information is organized to help students prepare, recall, analyze, and interpret information learned from the chapter, unit, or year in an engaging in fun manner. It also requires team work and collaboration.
Other review games were on the following: Kahoot, Bingo, Worksheets, and Quizlet Live
Ways to Differentiate:
Post on classroom so students can access it later and review individually
Physical handouts to help students follow along with the questions
Switch up format to allow for individual learning styles
AP Practice Information
Learning Goal: -Apply and evaluate information learned in the AP curriculum to prepare for the AP Test.
Lesson Information: Practice Based Learning
Ways to Differentiate Instruction:
online versus on paper
group questions into a game (Kahoot, Quizlet, etc...)
Even and Odd (for multiple choice have students complete odd questions one day and even the next)
Personality Tests Information
Learning Goal: Explain the validity and reliability of personality tests and theories
Lesson Information:
Students had previously taken the Myers Briggs Personality Test towards the start of the year. They would then take it again at the start of this assignment.
They would then compare their results and answer the questions on the worksheet. After they would take the Big Five Factor Personality test.
This will allow them, with the data from the worksheet and previous knowledge from the chapter, to assess the reliability and validity of the personality tests.
Ways to Differentiate Instruction:
Students could work with a partner
The worksheet could be divided into portions or made to be more discussion based and used as an outline
Credit: Mr. Roberts PRHS
Visualization Readings Information
Learning Goal: -varies based on unit
-Example Learning Goal for above: Describe the effect of social cognition, influence, and relations on though processes
Lesson Information: Individual/Small Group Work
Students would read the module and then answer the questions on a worksheet based on the readings. Instead of simply answering the questions though, they would draw images out and write captions representing key psychological terms from the reading as seen above.
Ways to Differentiate Instruction:
Even and Odd Questions/Terms completed
complete drawings online instead of physical copy
use pre-selected images to create the drawings/magazines/clipart
Gallery Walks
Gallery Walk Example Questions
Learning Goal: varies based on unit
Lesson Information: Student/group based
Students presented with the above information and given a half poster paper and a specific colored marker
Each group would have a specific marker to denote the different markings of the groups
Gallery Walk Student Example
Lesson Information: Part 3
Students would rotate until they have seen all of the questions
They will then be returned the first question and the students will have either a small group discussion and then a class discussion or present the findings on their question and then raise the question/annotations to the rest of the class
AP Psychology Work
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid
Learning Goal: Compare and Contrast different theories of Motivated Behavior
Activity Information: Inquiry Based
In this assignment, students created their own Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid based off of the question "According to Maslow, what do people need?" (Based off Motivation Lesson as seen above)
The students used images from magazines and newspapers to visually represent each of the needs according to Maslow
They then wrote a miniature story explaining and applying how this could fit their lives
Below are some examples of student work
Stages of Development Student Projects
Learning Goal: Identify the major issues associated with life span development and apply these to one's own life
Activity Information: Project Based Learning
Ways to Differentiate: Students could select drawings, magazines, or complete digitally. Students could also apply these stages to a fictional character or celebrity.
Students created a timeline based off of Erikson and Piaget's stages of Development and then compared it to their own life and life events
This allowed the students to connect what w were learning in class to their own lives and make it more engaging and relatable
Due to personal content there are no examples posted
Final Project - Design you own School - 12th Grade
In this project students were scored based upon their presentation and how well they applied core concepts of psychology to an educational setting in order for them to solve modern day problems in education. They were scored based on their model/content as well as the information shared during their presentation to the class.
Credit: Mr. Matthew Roberts at Pine Richland HS
Project Example
